Golf tee



Dec- 21, 1937- AR. M. VAN VALKENBURG 2,103,026

GOLF TEE Filed April 1, 1957 Inventor .EMT Vz zeizafy,

By um Attorneys Y Patented De.21,19s7 P:

ulvfirtzfl) [STATES I GOLF TEE Richard Manley Van Valkenburg, Fulton, N.Y. Application April 1, 1937, serial No. 134,363

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to newand useful improvements infgolf teesand has for one of its important objects to provide', in a manner ashereinafter set forth, an article of this character 5 embodying novelmeans for firmly supporting the ball in elevated position when in use.

Another important objectfof the invention is to provide a golf teewhich, when not in use, will occupy a minimum of space.

Still another important object of the invention is to Vprovide a golfrtee of the aforementioned y character which may carry considerableadvertising matter. Y l

Other objects of the invention are to provide 15 la golf tee of thecharacter described which will be comparatively simple in construction,strong, durable, which may be left on the ground without danger to othergolfers, and which may be manufactured at lowcost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecication, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinlike characters of reference i Adesignate corresponding partsthroughoutv the vseveral views, and wherein: f

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a golf tee constructed in accordance withthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View through the invention, showing thedevice in use.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3--3 ofFig. 1.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the tee.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises alaminated disk I of suitable material, preferably paper or cardboard.Formed in the upper portion 4o of the laminated disk I are incisions 2defining supportin-g tabs 3 which are adapted to be lifted tosubstantially the position shown in Fig. 2

of the drawing when the tee is to be used. The

tabs 3 swing at theirouter ends, as at 4. The 45 adjacent inner ends ofthe tabs 3 have formed therein arcuate recesses 5 for the reception of agolf ball, as at 1. When the tabs 3 are in closed f position, asillustrated toadvantage in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the recesses 5 alsofacilitate the 50 insertion of a finger or thumb nail forthe purpose oflifting said tabs.

Struck from the tabs 3 are integral supports 6 which are adapted tohinge or swing on said tabs adjacent the free ends thereof, as best seenin 55 Fig. 2 of the drawing. The supports 6 are preferably ofsubstantially the shape shown to advantage in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Anysuitable advertising or other matter may be placed on either or bothsides of the laminated disk I. Also, the laminated member I may be ofany suitable shape other than circular.

It is thought that the manner of using the tee will be readily apparentfrom ,a consideration of the foregoing. When the tee is to be used, thetabs 3 are raised by inserting a linger or thumb nail beneath the freeinner ends thereof in the arcuate recesses 5. After the tabs 3 are thuslifted the supporting braces I5 are pressed inwardly with the free lowerends thereof resting on the lower portion of the laminated disk I in therecesses left by said tabs 3. The ball 1 may Y then be set in thearcuate recesses 5` in a manner to be firmly supported between theoppositely inclined tabs 3. The construction and arrangement is suchthat a player may carry a` large number of the tees withoutinconvenience and, if desired, discard each tee after it has been usedonce. Also, the tee may be left on the ground without fear cf injury toother golfers or animals. Still further, each time that the tee is usedthe advertising'matter thereon will come under the observation of thegolfer.

It is thought that the many advantages of a golf tee constructed inaccordance with the prese ent vinvention will be readily runderstood andalthough a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A golf tee comprising a laminated member having incisions in itsupper portion dening liftable tabs vadapted to support a golf ball inelevated position on said member, said incisions intersecting andproviding a slotted opening and such point of intersection forming Aacommon fingernail receiving opening for lifting the respective tabs andintegral braces struck from the tabs and extending vertically with itslower end resting on the member when said tabs are in lifted position tosupport the tabs in upwardly extended position.

2. A golf tee comprising a laminated member having incisions in itsupper portion defining liftable tabs adapted to support a golf ball inelevated position on said member, said incisions intersecting andproviding a slotted opening and such point of intersection forming acommon fingernail receiving opening for lifting the respective tabs,said slotted opening further having arcuate edges to provide arcuaterecesses in their free ends when the tabs are lifted for the receptionof the ball, and integral braces struck from the tabs and extendingvertically with its lower end resting on the member for supporting saidtabs in lifted position.

3. A golf tee of the character described comprising a laminated diskhaving a pair of circular incisions in its upper portion, said incisionterminating at one side of the circle in an unsevered edge and defininga pair of opposed, complemental, liftable tabs adapted to be swungupwardly and outwardly from their outer ends for supporting a lgolf ballin elevated position on said disk, said incisions further intersectingat one edge and provided at said edge with a slotted opening forming acommon ngernail receiving opening for lifting the respective tabs, saidslotted opening further having arcuate edges to provide arcuate recessesin their free ends when the shafts are lifted to facilitate lifting saidtabs and for the reception of the ball, and integral braces struck fromthe tabs and extending vertically with its lower end resting on the diskfor supporting said tabs in lifted position.

RICHARD M. VAN VALKENBURG.

